David Brausch. David, along with his five siblings and parents, settled in Warren County Ohio back in 1971. Although his Dad did not farm their 80 acres, the family (girls included) learned the value of hard work in hay and straw fields across the county. Hauling hay and straw to horse farms helped put the six kids through college. By the time David reached high school, he realized he had a passion for agriculture. That passion led him to The Ohio State University where he earned a BA in Agricultural Systems Management. After graduation in 1994 he returned home to start building his farming business. David currently farms 1400 acres, with the support of his wife Stephanie and their two boys MJ who is 12 and Evan who is 11. In an effort to build organic matter in his clay soils, David started composting about ten years ago. The compost provides most of his potash and phosphorus. It also promotes water infiltration and water retention. David has been involved with Howry Brothers Seed and Chemical retailing agricultural inputs, and he earned his certified crop advisor license. David has served on the Ohio Corn and Wheat grower’s board and is a member of the Ohio Farm Bureau. David believes organic matter is the backbone of soil health. But even with his composting efforts, he will tell you he has a long way to go in regards to being a conservationist. Two things he will be trying to implement on his own acres would be decreased tillage and more utilization of cover crops. He feels water quality and soil conservation will continue to be under the microscope in Ohio for the foreseeable future. All sectors, especially agriculture, will be asked (if not mandated) to do more to protect water quality and conserve soil, according to David. His goal if elected to the board, would be to further educate himself with the issues and in turn be able to help facilitate conservation practices across all business sectors in the county.
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Bruce Goodwin. . Bruce, current Fiscal Officer for the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District believes that “Soil is Life.” The Goodwin Family can trace their Harlan Township farming roots all the way back to the 1820’s when their family came from West Virginia. Bruce is a graduate of Wilmington College, has three daughters and 6 grandsons. He and his wife, Carole, farm 2400 acres near Pleasant Plain as the Goodwin Farms Grain and Beef Operation. Farming’s connection to soil has prompted Bruce to protect the soil resource base and water quality by installing grassed waterways, WASCOB’s, manure storage and heavy use pads for livestock. He has been no-tilling since 1984 and uses cover crops when at all possible. Bruce has been a Pioneer Hi-Bred Seed Sales Representative since 1984 and a council member for the Village of Pleasant Plain for over 30 years.
When asked about his work on the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation Board, Bruce responds that, “It is about giving back to the community, keeping water clean and soil on the ground.” He believes that there is a disconnect between today’s youth and our natural resources. He believes the solution is “kids need to turn off the screens and get outside.” He also wants to re-connect residents back to soil. Bruce Goodwin was elected to the Board in 1995 and hopes for re-election so that he can continue to serve the community while promoting the wise use of Warren County’s natural resources. |
Samantha Steiner. With a passion and love of nature, Samantha Steiner has been involved in the agricultural community all her life. Growing up, she spent most of her time as the fourth generation on her family’s dairy farm and was heavily involved in her county 4-H program. In 2010, Samantha started her own business, Dogwood Farm, where she raises grass-fed beef cattle and pastured poultry including laying hens, meat chickens, and Thanksgiving turkeys. Her products are available directly to consumers through the on-site farm store. This allows customers to build a bridge between their food source and the farmer producing it, which in turn, builds trust.
To show proper stewardship to our natural resources and keep true to her philosophy of leaving things better than she found them, Samantha uses regenative practices on her farm such as rotational and multi-species grazing, a practice that promotes soil health and pasture regrowth. Samantha was elected to the Warren Co Soil and Water Conservation Board in 2014 where she serves alongside an incredible, dedicated staff and four other board members to help put conservation practices on the ground in her community. She is currently serving as first vice president for the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts. |